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heed, that they be not found in wearing superfluity of apparel, nor immoderate or unseemly taking of tobacco: also selling of needless things, whereby any may take occasion of offence justly; but that we all may be found to be kept within the bounds of moderation, and within the bounds of the spirit of Truth; and may be known to be governed by the Truth in all concerns; so shall we be to the glory of God and the comfort one of another."

In the year 1685, it was unanimously agreed and concluded by the Yearly Meeting, that there be but one Yearly and General Meeting in Pennsylvania and West Jersey-to be held the next year at Burlington on the first first-day of the 7th month, for worship; and the fourth day to be for the Men's and Women's Meetings. The year following to be held at Philadelphia, on the same day of the same month, and to continue the same time, alternately at both places.

At the Yearly Meeting, 1683, it was agreed that the one Monthly Meeting heretofore held in Bucks county, be divided into two, and to hold a Quarter [Quarterly Meeting.] One Monthly Meeting to be held about Neshaminah, the other near the River.

Bucks Quarterly Meeting was first held at the house of William Biles, the 7th of the 3d month, 1684, and at the second Quarterly Meeting it was agreed "that Friends ought not to sell rum to the Indians."

A record of 29th of 9th month, 1686, states "a Women's Quarterly Meeting is settled at William Biddle's, in the province of West Jersey, and county of Burlington, &c. for the propagating and continuing in practice that good order established among us

in our native country, (viz.) Old England, for the governing and good ordering of Truth's affairs, which hath (in the wisdom of God,) [been] seen, and yet is seen meet and of necessity to be practised."

In the Yearly Meeting, 1688, a paper was presented by some German Friends concerning the lawfulness and unlawfulness of buying and keeping of Negroes. It was adjudged not to be so proper for the Meeting to give a judgment on the case, it having so general a relation to many other parts-and therefore at present they forbear it.

JOHN WIGHAM TO MARTHA ROUTH.

Edinburgh, 4th month 28th, 1801.

DEAR MARTHA,

Though I have little to say to thee, I have love in my heart for thee; and my dear Betty intending to be at the yearly meeting, can bring this line, without cost, to tell thee so.

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Pilgrims, thou knows, have not always a smooth road, but they expect a recompense at the end; and if they can get a little of the "brook by the way,' just to enable them to struggle on, its enough:—and sometimes the salvation of a fellow-pilgrim has a reviving influence on the drooping mind;-if it be but like a pointing forward with a finger, an expressive language, "hold on! behold the prize! Thy captain is also at thy right hand; he will be the stability of thy times." Dear sister, farewell. Thy poor J. WIGHAM.

WILLIAM SHARPLESS, Printer,
No. 2 Decatur street, Philadelphia.

FRIENDS' MISCELLANY.

The memory of the just is blessed.-Prov. x. 7.
Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

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John, vi. 12.

VOL. I.

In the preceding number of this work, a brief sketch of the life of James Thornton, was inserted. The reader is now presented with additional memoirs, -and some of his epistolary correspondence, exhibiting a further view of his character, and of his labours of love for the welfare of his fellow-creatures.

By the Minutes of Abington Monthly Meeting, it appears that James Thornton and Mary Knight, laid their intentions of marriage before that meeting, the 30th of 7th mo. 1751; and it is most probable they were married in the 9th month following. As James lived at Bristol, his right of membership was at the Falls. This, however, was transferred by a certificate from that Meeting to Abington, in the early part of the year 1753, "recommending him as a Friend, whose conversation was exemplary, and with whose ministry Friends had unity."

About the year 1758, Oxford preparative meeting became so small and weak, as to claim the attention of the Monthly meeting; and in the 8th month, James Thornton, with a number of other Friends, was appointed to attend said meeting. Abington Monthly meeting was then large, but it appears that Friends

adopted the apostolic advice, to "lay hands suddenly

on no man."

In the First month, 1759, James was again put on the Committee of Care over that meeting, and in the month following, he and Edward Parry were appointed to join the Monthly Meeting's Committee, in a family visit, which was reported in the First month, 1760, to be "generally gone through with, to good satisfaction."

Hitherto it does not appear that James Thornton had travelled in the line of the ministry, further than to neighbouring meetings; but in the Third month, 1760, he opened a prospect "to visit some meetings in the county of Chester, and also of his purpose to attend West River Yearly Meeting, desiring the concurrence and certificate of the meeting," which obtained the unity of Friends, so that a certificate was prepared for him at the next Monthly meeting; and in the Sixth month following, he produced a few lines from Friends of said Yearly meeting, stating that his doctrine was well received, and his conversation and conduct exemplary and edifying.

For some years, he appears to have travelled little, and the Monthly meeting records are silent respecting his religious labours, except naming him on a committee to visit a Friend who had bought a slave in the year 1763.

The 30th of Fourth month, 1770, the following certificate was granted him, addressed to the Yearly Meeting, to be held at Flushing, on Long Island.

"Our esteemed Friend, James Thornton, acquainting this meeting of a concern being on his mind to be at your next Yearly Meeting at Flushing; also, of falling in with meetings as he goes along; these may

inform you, that he is a Friend well beloved-his ministry well received amongst us, and that we have good unity, and doth [do] concur with him in his present undertaking. Hoping that he, on his return, may have the reward of peace in his own bosom, and remain your loving friends and brethren."

In the 6th month, he returned the above minute, with an endorsement, signifying that his labours of love in the ministry were acceptable to them.

One important subject that claimed the attention of the Yearly Meeting, nearly from its first establishment, was the visiting of Friends in their particular families; and it is frequently called the "edifying practice of visiting families." Recommendations on this subject, to the Quarterly and Monthly Meetings, were annually renewed, under the impression that it was the "means of preventing many growing inconveniences and customs amongst us, which it might be difficult guarding against, in a more public manAnd it appears to have been the practice for the preparative meetings to report the names of Friends for that service, to the Monthly meeting. Hence, in conformity with this custom, Byberry returned James Thornton and Thomas Townsend, for the service of visiting families, in the 2d mo. 1771.

ner."

3

In the year 1772, James Thornton again attended the Yearly meeting at West River, in Maryland, having the unity of Friends in his undertaking, "being a Friend whose ministry is well received amongst

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In the 4th month, the year following, he opened a concern to visit some meetings in the Jersies, and the next Yearly meeting to be held on Long Island. A minute of recommendation was granted him for the

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